AUBURN - The Zonta Club of Auburn held its 13th annual Sherri Peter Memorial women's golf tournament on Monday at Highland Park Golf Club.

All of the proceeds are being used towards benefiting the status of women in the Cayuga County area.

Some may wonder how the money raised is able to promote such a broad subject matter. The earnings are being distributed to two main causes - domestic violence in the Cayuga County area and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Center.

“A good portion goes towards domestic violence problems in Cayuga County,” said Anne Donahue, co-chairman of the tournament.

Some other groups who will share a piece of the proceeds include the American Red Cross, Finger Lakes Girl Scouts and the St. Peter and John's Soup Kitchen.

The woman in which the tournament is dedicated, Sherri Cunningham Peter, was a member of Auburn's Zonta Club. Peter passed away from breast cancer and now the tournament is held in her memory.

Dale Cunningham, Anne Bunker, as well as Donahue helped organize the tournament.

All three women are members of the Zonta Club in Auburn, in which Donahue is president. There were also five tournament managers who are not affiliated with the Zonta Club, but put in a lot of time and effort.

The two-woman scramble style tournament attracted golfers from all over Central New York. About half of the women were coming from Syracuse, while others came from places as far as Utica and Ithaca.

“I feel it's a great way for golfers to network,” Donahue said, “Golfers from Syracuse can come to golf with people from Auburn.”

Some women golfers come out to play in the tournament for the sake of supporting the Auburn Zonta Club, while other golfers play for more sentimental reasons.

Cathy Kusnierczyk is pleased she could help contribute to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Center, as the disease has had a tremendous effect on her family.

Both Kusnierczyk's mother and brother were diagnosed with breast cancer. Her mother passed away on Christmas last year.

“I'll do anything I can to raise money to support breast cancer,” Kusnierczyk said. “It affects a lot of women and men.”

Kusnierczyk cruised the links in a golf cart decorated by two inspirational pictures hung in the front - one of her brother and another of her mother.

Without a doubt, one of the most special parts of the tournament is the fact that it's basically the only all-women golf tournaments in the area.

Kate Lacey, a volunteer at the tournament, believes it's great to finally have something like this in Cayuga County. Lacey volunteered her time because as a golfer herself, she travels to many other areas to participate in tournaments, but now Auburn has its own.

“The Zonta Club is a great organization and has contributed to a lot of great causes for a long time, but the golf part needed some assistance,” said Lacey.

“This is one of the best run tournaments I've seen,” said KusnierczykT “The women who are in it and the course are fantastic.”

“We want to make sure it's a special tournament so it carries on every year,” Lacey said.